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Sunday, August 9, 2009

My Favorite Sentence in Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing

There's a moment in the movie Julie & Julia (which I wrote about earlier) where the Julie Powell character describes Julia Child as her imaginary friend who speaks to her while she's cooking.I could totally relate, because sometimes I feel like VoNBBS is my imaginary friend who speaks to me while I'm sewing.Sometimes she's funny, sometimes she scolds me, and sometimes she revels in my victories. But of all the things she says to me, here is my favorite by far. This appears in the chapter on making the full, gathered skirt.

"You have, of course, bought the size corresponding most closely to your length and waist measurements. But make sure it's going to fit before going whack-whack into the fabric."

Isn't that hilarious and wonderful? Going "whack-whack" into the fabric! I absolutely love that, and it's become a mantra of mine.

Okay, Gertie, let's make sure this is going to fit before we go whack-whack into the fabric.

Or: Now, why don't you double check the grain before going whack-whack into the fabric, dear?

And then, once everything is double-checked, I go whack-whack into the fabric. Fearlessly! With gusto!

I just adore this saying. Thank you VoNBBS, my imaginary friend, for holding me to a higher standard.

That is something I need to remind myself all the time. I get a bit excited and just want to "whack-whack" into my fabric straight away. Which has in times caused some troubles and loss of nice fabric!

This is one of my most favorite books - don't you love how they have the same pattern made in different fabrics? What a cool idea you've come up with here, and I'll definitely be following along.Gail, San Clemente, CA

Gertie, I just found your blog and I just had to let you know how much I enjoy it! I read through all the archives so I wouldn't miss any of the projects :) Going through the entire book of projects sounds like something I would like to do, but would poop out before finishing. On behalf of those of us who are enjoying your journey along with you, Please Don't Poop Out!

Thanks so much, Jen! And thanks for stopping by, Gail. I love hearing from you! I don't see myself pooping out on this--I get more obsessed as the days go on. :) All your support keeps me very motivated!

Oh my golly... I don't think I'm ever going to cut out a project again without thinking "did I double check everything before I whack-whack the fabric?". rofl! Thanks for the good chuckle this morning! ;)

My mum used to say "In with the scissors, out with the wits", which haunts me whenever the whack-whack moment approaches. In fact, once Mum's little phrase pops up, the conviction that my wits WILL be cast out by the mere touch of steel on palm is almost unshakeable!

The wonderful I Hate To Housekeep book by Peg Bracken (circa the 1960s?) contains the sentence: "And you probably already know better than to drive a nail into a plaster wall whammo, like that." It reduces me to tears of laughter every single time I read that book.